Forgotten Sins

Chapter 28

An ache filled Josie’s entire head. She groaned, blinking her eyes open. Light lanced her pupils, and she winced, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes. Deep breaths. The sharp scent of bleach stabbed her nostrils. She opened her eyes again.

She reclined in a leather chaise in some sort of examination room. A long peach-colored counter held a stainless steel sink along with cotton balls, tongue depressors, and a blood pressure cuff.

Her arm ached. Glancing down, she gasped at the cotton ball taped to the inside of her elbow. Had they injected her with something?

The door opened. A woman stepped inside, her three-inch heels clicking on the sparkling white tiles. She tapped a manila file in her hands. “You’re awake.”

Josie struggled for reason. It was the bitch who’d insulted her intelligence in the conference room after the break-in at her office. What was her name—“Dr. Madison?”

Sharp blue eyes appraised her. Today the doctor wore a white lab coat and had pulled her hair back in a fierce bun. “Yes.”

“What did you inject me with?” Josie asked, her voice coming out hoarse.

Madison frowned perfectly arched brows. “Nothing. I took blood to see if my young Shane had finally procreated.”

The possessive tone set Josie’s stomach rolling. “I’m not pregnant.”

Madison shut the door. “No, unfortunately, you are not.” She shrugged. “We have had absolutely no luck continuing their line.”

“How unfortunate.” Josie’s vision wavered, and her jaw pounded. “So let me go.”

“No. You’re one of many sacrifices for science.”

“Like you’ve ever sacrificed.” Josie swallowed, tasting blood.

“Not true.” Madison sniffed. “I gave over my only child to them—for Nathan to use temporarily. My poor Audrey.”

“Audrey?” Facts ticked through Josie’s mind. The woman who Nathan had loved? “Wait a minute—the head researcher was Audrey’s mother—is that you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re psychotic. What about the kill chip?” Maybe it wasn’t real.

Madison giggled. “I wondered if they were getting worried. The chip will slice their spines in three months or so, right?” She shook her head. “They really had better make up with us, don’t you think?”

Rage, fear, shock all cascaded through Josie. “You’re a monster.”

The doctor shook her head. “Don’t be silly. You might as well know that since you’re not pregnant, keeping you alive isn’t high on my priority list.” She crossed the room toward the counter.

Josie sat up, settling her tennis shoes on the tile. She hadn’t had the chance to search the drawers for a weapon. “You’re evil.” If she could distract the doctor, maybe she could make a break for it.

Madison’s blue eyes sparkled. “Don’t be so dramatic.” Her smile revealed perfectly straight teeth.

Josie eyed the door. “Rumor has it Audrey set Nathan up, Doc.”

Madison pursed her lips. “Is that what they think? Hmm. Interesting.” Her gaze narrowed. “Apparently my Shane confided in you. I taught him better than that.”

“You know Shane?” Sadness for her husband filtered through Josie. To be raised by a crazy scientist who didn’t even care about her own daughter must’ve been terrible. No wonder Shane had trouble dealing with women.

“Don’t be coy, dear. It doesn’t suit you.” Madison’s gaze lashed over Josie. “I have to say, you’re not what I expected.”

“Why’s that?” She needed to find some sort of weapon. While she figured she could take the doctor in a heartbeat, stupid Tom had to be around somewhere. Or Daniel. Maybe Josie could get Daniel to help her.

The smile turned malicious. “Shane’s training. The darkness in my Shane surprised even me.” Her voice lowered to a throaty purr. “I really wonder what in the world my boy sees in somebody as weak as you.”

“You jealous?” Josie allowed her voice to lower. “From what I’ve heard, you were a desperate dog in heat. Always watching, always wanting.” It was a calculation and a stab in the dark. But something in the doctor’s tone hinted. Josie lifted her gaze to meet the doctor’s. “But they never returned your desire now, did they?”

Fire raced through the doctor’s eyes before she cleared them. “That’s what you think.”

“No.” Satisfaction lifted Josie’s chin at the direct hit. “They wanted your pretty daughter. Your innocent, sweet, and young daughter.”

The smirk on Madison’s face twisted. “Yes, well. Young Nathan wanted Audrey. And he got her for a short time—though she wasn’t quite as innocent as he’d hoped.” Madison crossed the room and placed the file on the counter. “But that didn’t end well now, did it?”

“They’re going to kill you.”

“I doubt it. Believe me, I’ve meant way too much to a couple of them.” Satisfaction lifted Madison’s red lips.

Josie fought down nausea. There was no way Shane had slept with this evil bitch of a doctor. She hoped none of the brothers had been caught in her trap, either.

“Besides”—Madison’s nostrils flared as she sucked in air—“I’m the closest thing to a mother those boys have ever known. They might want to kill me, but it would destroy them to do so.”

But they’d do it. For each other, if one of them got the chance, they’d kill the doctor. Whoever did it would never recover. Josie settled her shoulders. “You’re right. So I guess I’ll be the one to kill you.” She kept her gaze on the closest thing to a real monster she’d ever seen. To protect Shane, to protect his brothers, she’d kill. She’d already shot a drug dealer, in fact.

Madison smiled again. “You know, I’m starting to like you.” Heavy footsteps echoed outside the door. “I think I will give Tom a chance to knock you up—or maybe Danny would like a shot at you. He seems rather irritated that Tom hit you. I wonder if I could get some ultra-soldiers out of the deal.”

Nausea and fear ripped through Josie’s stomach, but she kept her face bland. “You’re an idiot.”

The doctor shook her head, clicking her tongue. “Name-calling, are we?” She glanced at Josie’s unblemished arm. “While I haven’t injected you with anything, I certainly may do so if you don’t cooperate with me. Which of the brothers have you met?”

Josie rolled her eyes. “There are no brothers. Shane told me about you, about your daughter, but that’s it.”

The doctor clicked her tongue. “For a civilian, you’re not a bad liar.”

“Thanks. For a doctor with degrees in clinical neuropsychology and psychoneuroimmunology, you’re stupid if you think you’ll live through hurting me.”

Madison’s girlish laughter wound around the room. “I see what Shane likes about you.”

“You must be really smart to have the degrees you do.” Josie tilted her head, studying the other woman.

“I am.” A satisfied smile lit the woman’s flawless face.

“Why use such knowledge to harm young boys?” Something in her needed to understand. How could monsters truly live among them?

“Harm?” Madison frowned. “No, we didn’t harm them. We enhanced them. We made them the ultimate males, the ultimate fighters.” Her eyes sparked. “I made them incredible.”

Anger tightened Josie’s jaw. “You experimented on them. Like lab rats.”

Madison shrugged. “Of course I experimented. We gave them the best genetics possible and then enhanced those. Before using behavioral techniques to train them as they grew.”

“Aren’t you concerned?” Josie frowned, truly trying to get into the crazy doctor’s head.

“Concerned? That they’ll come after me, not understanding?” Madison shook her head.

“No. Concerned that God will be pissed you’re trying to be Him.” Growing up in foster care had given her a fundamental view of God and death, but it was one she believed in. “As a scientist, you have to be open to possibilities, to what-ifs. What if God exists and is seriously pissed at you, Dr. Madison?”

Madison lifted her chin. “If God exists, He can share space with me.”

Okay, the chick was crazy. No chance of reasoning with her. Time for action. Josie lunged forward, tackling the doctor around her midsection.

Madison pivoted, almost casually slamming her elbow down on Josie’s spine. Pain racked Josie, and she dropped to one knee. Her mind buzzed. Her central nervous system fired.

The door opened. “What the hell?” A hulking soldier stalked inside and grabbed Josie’s arms to toss her back into the recliner. She bounced against the hard leather before settling into place, her ears ringing.

Madison giggled like a little girl. “I’ve lived with soldiers for the last thirty years, dear. I can fight.”

The man stepped back, his gaze calculating. “This is Shane’s woman?”

“Yes.”

His gaze ran down her form, and Josie fought a shiver. Silver hair blended with brown in his razor-sharp crew cut. He stood at about six foot two and was packed hard, his muscles clearly visible through the soldier uniform.

Josie took a deep breath. “I assume you’re the commander?”

He lifted a graying eyebrow over nearly black eyes. “You’ve heard of me.”

“My husband plans to kill you.” Nothing existed behind those too dark eyes. No emotion, no spark. Pure evil.

“I would certainly like to see him try.” The commander stood at attention, his gaze dropping to her breasts and back up. “Do you think Shane mellowed out, or do you think that pretty face hides a wildcat in bed?”

Madison giggled. “I think Shane decided to slum it for a while. Though she might be worth some fun for you.” She cut him a sly grin. “So long as I get to watch.”

Bile swirled in Josie’s stomach. “You make me sick.”

Madison slid her hand down the commander’s arm and ignored Josie’s statement. “We should videotape her time here to give to Shane. I always figured there’d be a way to break him.”

The commander nodded. “That’s a good idea.” He glanced at his watch. “We need to capture him first.” Stepping forward, the commander grabbed Josie’s jaw and tilted her head up with calloused fingers. “Who’s with Shane?”

She yanked her head back, pain cascading through her jaw as he held tight. “Fuck you.”

His grip tightened. Agony exploded behind her eyeballs. But she held his gaze.

He smiled, a slow anticipation of a grin. “Breaking you might be as fun as breaking Shane.” With one final squeeze that had her seeing stars, he released her. A knock sounded on the door.

The commander opened the heavy metal door and allowed Tom entry. “Put her somewhere safe and meet me in the control room to call Shane.” He left without a backward glance.

Tom settled his stance. He’d changed into tan silk pants, Italian loafers, and a dark Armani shirt—and he’d slicked his hair back. He glanced at Dr. Madison, his eyes warming. “Do I get her or not?”

Madison shrugged. “Sure. I haven’t had any more luck using your genetic material than I have with the Gray brothers, but what the hell. Let’s give it a shot.” She grabbed her file and flounced to open the door. “Get her settled in and meet me in the commander’s office in fifteen minutes.” She smiled at Josie. “We need to call your husband.” The door swished shut.

Josie glared up at Tom. “Who the hell are you?”

He shrugged. “Part of the Brown family. Brown-eyed brothers.”

So they used the eye color as genetic markers. “Why didn’t Shane know you?”

“A few of us were selected to train elsewhere. But Shane knows my brother, Emery.” Tom grinned. “In fact, I believe Emery would like a chance with you after I’m finished.”

How could she have missed the evil living in Tom? He’d fooled her so well. “And Daniel?”

“My little brother. Well, half brother.”

“Where is he?” Daniel was her best ally in this crazy place.

Tom smiled, his eyes lighting. “The commander sent him on a mission, since he was so smitten with you. Good old Danny Boy is on his way to Uganda. Good riddance.”

Disappointment weakened her knees. “You set me up.”

“Sure.” Tom’s gaze dropped to her breasts. “We’ve had you on the radar for the last five months—constantly mining the military database finally paid off. We found several soldiers with Shane’s unique skill set… and we monitored them all until narrowing our search to him. When that didn’t turn up anything, the commander figured Shane would be in touch with you again someday, so we’ve been watching you.”

“The recent divorce and losing your company?”

“No bitch would ever divorce me. She’d be buried twelve feet under instead. I made it up. To get closer to you.” Tom’s grin lacked humor. “And no little sisters. Man, that was a tactic that got your attention now, didn’t it? Poor little orphan.”

Yeah. It had worked. “They raised you in a military environment—under the threat of death? Just like Shane?”

Tom’s eyes swirled as he lifted his gaze. “Yes. I’m the ultimate soldier.” He licked his lips. “Though I’ve had training you’re certainly going to enjoy later.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve always considered you kind of boring. Guess I was right.”

He manacled a large hand around her arm, jerking her from the chair. “Somehow I don’t think you’ll consider me boring for long.”

Her feet slipped on the tiles as she tried to dig in and stop Tom. He continued to pull her across the room and into the hallway, passing closed industrial-sized doors.

She fought, fear heating her gut. “I have to say, I liked you better in the flannels and jeans.”

He grinned. “Man, I hated dressing down the last two months. Good thing that’s over.”

“The laugh lines around your eyes—I don’t get it.” Bad guys didn’t have laugh lines.

“Let’s just say I love my job.” His voice lowered to something dark.

Fear rippled down her spine. The guy was crazy. “Let me go.”

“No.” His long strides ate up the concrete floor, and Josie stumbled along.

Their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Dead silence came from behind the closed doors. “Why is it so quiet here?” she asked. “I mean, where is everybody?”

“This is the new building for Fuller Labs. You know that.”

Oh yeah. She’d found some excellent write-offs for the lab from creating the state-of-the-art, energy-efficient new space. “The place won’t be staffed until next month, when they move buildings.” So she was on the north side of town. Good to know.

“Right. We have soldiers here now. I’ll bet that wasn’t in your documents.”

“No. The fact that Fuller Labs worked outside the law to genetically engineer a soldier slave class didn’t make it into the files.”

“Outside the law?” He stopped in front of a bank of elevators, tugging her inside when the door opened. “You know better than that. Perhaps our entire government isn’t in on it, but I can promise you many high-ranking officials fund us.”

They moved up a floor. There had to be some way she could reach his conscience. “Tom. You’re not this person. You don’t have to be what they made you—you can be whoever you want.” She tried to tug away as the doors opened.

He laughed, pulling her into a long concrete hallway that matched the one they’d just left. “I like who I am. I know how to fight, and I know how to kill. My IQ is off the charts. Normal rules don’t apply to me.” He stopped in front of a keypad next to a large maroon door.

She cleared her throat. “Oh. What, ah, special abilities do you have?”

“I just told you.” He punched in numbers and shoved her inside a studio apartment with sitting area, sleeping area, and small kitchenette.

So Tom didn’t have any super abilities like Shane and his brothers. Was he an anomaly? Or maybe just the genetic engineering for the Gray family had produced hyper-abilities. No wonder the commander wanted them so badly.

Tom pointed toward an oak door next to the bed. “The bathroom’s through there.”

She yanked her arm free and backed away.

He stared down at her from his additional foot of height. “I have to go meet with the commander but will be back soon.” His eyes darkened even further. “I suggest you figure out a way to make me happy.”

She forced her trembling body to relax. Did Tom have any feelings for her? Surely a guy like him wouldn’t like an older soldier stepping in his way. Maybe she could somehow get Tom to help her. “You don’t understand. The commander said he wants to take me.”

Tom smiled. “It wouldn’t be the first time the commander and I shared a woman. Who knows, maybe Emery will join in this time.” Stepping back into the hallway, he shut the door. The sound of the lock engaging echoed around the quiet apartment.

Fear weakened Josie’s knees. Only stubborn will kept her on her feet.

What now?